Experience the River in the Fall |
| On Oct. 9, Greg Vitale and I got out on a warm October day for the 9
mile run down to Yellow Banks. We left his car and my tow car downstream, and loaded his kayak on my van. It was very foggy even at 10 AM as we gor ready to put in at SE 14th St. We talked about having the paddlers take on this access as a cleanup for Earth Day. It is badly trashed out. The water levels are very low, and many times we had only 5-6 inches of water (it would sure be nice if we could get a little water from Saylorville and Red Rock). We could see the sandy bottom quite well, however, and there was no shortage of sandbars. We paddled into the fog for about an hour, and the great blue herons were emboldened to sit in the trees and watch us get very close before they took flight. Our visibility was not more than 200 feet, and the effect of the sun shining through the fog, and the mist hanging in the trees, was quite lovely. About 5 miles downstream, past the sewage plant, the fog broke and the herons departed. As we passed the Hwy. 65 bridge, we began to see flights of cormorants and gulls, and then a few egrets on the sandbars and in the trees. Nearing the bluffs by Vandalia Rd., with its festive fall colors that stretched for miles in front of us, we came upon a spectacular sight. A flight of large white birds with black wingtips and large bills came over us, perhaps 20-30 birds. It was the first of more than a hundred pelicans that stood on the sandbars, took flight and wheeled overhead, then joined the circling squadrons. Pelicans filled the skies as we watched in awe. As we floated and watched, all the waterfowl we had been watching A group of hikers hurried down to tell us that they had witnessed this incredible gathering of nature, and had watched as we all moved down the river, and had been amazed to see the whole congregation disperse. Such is the splendor and the mystery of the Des Moines River Water Trail. Have a good one!! |